Amusement device



Jan. 16, 1962 K. R. SANDERS AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 25, 1960 Arra/ewsxs m T. w W.

KENNETH \2.$ANDE|2S Jan. 16 1962 K. R. SANDERS AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1960 INVENTOR. KENNETH 12.5AM0E25 %c%m jite tates The present invention relates to an amusement device.

Presently in use in carnivals. ci-rcuses, at county fairs and the like,are amusement devices in which an individual strikes a target with amallet to drive upwardly a weight secured in a trackway, the heighth ofthe weight when driven upwardly being a test of the individualsstrength. At the top of the device is a gong which is struck by theweight when optimum striking force is applied to the target. A purposeof the device is to enable a person to win a prize by striking the gongwith the weight. It is generally known that children are attracted tosuch an amusement device as they see at a county fair or the like butare incapable of striking the target with enough force to cause theweight to ring the gong.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in an amusementdevice, a simulation of the amusement device employed at county fairsand carnivals to test the strength of an individual by striking a targetwith a mallet and driving a weight upwardly to a gong.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an amusementdevice for children which is attractive in operation, one requiring amoderate amount of strength to effect the ringing of a gong, and onewhich is safe in operation for children of all ages to use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an amusementdevice which is sturdy in construction and having long-lifecharacteristics, one which may be manufactured and assembled atreasonable cost, and one which is highly eitective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the device showing a mallet in aposition to strike the anvil means on the device;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational View of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, showingthe anvil means in the position it will assume when struck, with theballs approaching and engaging the gong of the device;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the lever of the device, removed from thebase;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the standard of the device, a portionin the center broken away, and with the tube removed;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on the line 77 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 ofFIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 9 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, the amusement deviceof the present invention comprises a base 10*. A standard 12 rises fromthe base 10 adjacent one end of the latter. A gong 14 is carried by thestandard 12 adjacent the upper end and a vertically disposed elongatedhollow tube fabricated of clear plastic or the like is supported by andsecured to the standard 12 so that the upper end is adjacent to andspaced below a lower peripheral portion or" the gong 14, and the lowerend is spaced above the base 10. The tube is designated atent by thenumeral 16 and it is secured to the standard 12 between a pair oflaterally disposed vertically arranged resilient V-shaped elements 18and 20, such elements being shown most clearly in FIGURES 6 and 7 whichshow the tube 16 removed from the standard 12.

An upright plunger 22 is positioned so that a portion adjacent the upperend is within and adjacent the lower end of the tube 16 and the portionadjacent the lower end is exteriorly of the lower end of the tube 16.

A pair of balls 24 and 26 are arranged in superimposed relation withinthe tube 16 and normally rest upon the upper end of the plunger 22 withthe lower ball 26 engaging the plunger 22.

A lever 28 is positioned above the base 10 and connected intermediateits ends to the upper end of a post 30 which rises from the base 10 at apoint spaced from the standard 12. A pivot pin 32 connects the lever 28to the post 30 for rocking movement about the pin 32 as a horizontalaxis.

Another pivot pin 34 connects one end of the lever 28 to the lower endportion of the plunger 22 for pivotal movement therebetween.

The other end of the lever 28 carries on its upper face an anvil meansin the form of a round-headed knob 36.

A short stub 38 projects upwardly from the base 10 in the path ofmovement of the end of the lever 28 having the knob 36. As shown inFIGURE 4, the stub 38 is engaged by the adjacent portion of the lever 28to limit the upward movement of the plunger 22 within the tube 16.

In a preferred form of the invention, the lower end portion of thestandard 12 extends clear through the base 10, as shown in FIGURE 6. Thepost 30' and the stub 38 are each secured to the base III by dowel pins40 and 42, respectively, which enter blind holes provided in the upperface of the base 10, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 5, the one end of the lever 28 which isconnected to the plunger 22 is bifurcated, as at 44 and is also providedwith an elongated slot 46 providing free movement of the pin 34 thereinas the end of the lever 28 moves in an arcuate path with respect to theadjacent end of the plunger 22.

In use, straps 48 and 50 are employed to secure the lower and upper endportions of the tube 16 to the standard 12 on one face thereof. A malletor hammer 52, having a handle 54 and a head 56 on one end of the handle54, may be employed to apply a downwardly directed striking force to theknob 36 so as to effect rocking movement of the lever 28 in theclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. When the lever 28 executesits rocking movement from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the positionshown in FIGURE 4, the plunger 22 is moved upwardly toward the gong 14,carrying the balls 24 and 26 therealong.

If suificient striking force is applied to the knob 36, the balls 24 and26 will be cast upwardly with enough force to strike the gong.

It has been found that for small children two lightweight or relativelylightweight balls may be employed, whereas for an older and strongerchild a single ball may be employed with most efliciency.

The novel operation of the toy of the present invention makes the toyattractive to a child and enables a child to exercise the muscles of hisarm by wielding of the hammer 52.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising a base, a standard rising from saidbase adjacent one end of the latter, a gong carried by said standardadjacent the upper end, a vertioally disposed elongated hollow tubehaving both ends open secured to said standard so that the upper end isadjacent to and spaced below a lower peripheral portion of said gong andthe lower end is spaced above said base, an upright plunger positionedso that a portion adjacent the upper end is within and adjacent thelower end of said tube with the portion adjacent the lower endexteriorly of the lower end of said tube, a ball freely slidable withinsaid tube and normally resting upon the upper end of said plunger, alever positioned above said base and connected intermediate the ends tosaid base for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, one end of saidlever being pivotally connected to the lower end portion of saidplunger, and anvil means on the other end of said lever, said lever uponthe application of a downwardly directed striking force to said anvilmeans being operable to execute rocking movement of said lever and causeupward movement of said plunger with the ball resting thereon towardsaid gong.

2. An amusement device comprising a base, a standard rising from saidbase adjacent one end of the latter, a gong carried by said standardadjacent the upper end, a vertically disposed elongated hollow tubehaving both ends open secured to said standard so that the upper end isadjacent to and spaced below a lower peripheral portion of said gong andthe lower end is spaced above said base, an upright plunger positionedso that a portion adjacent the upper end is within and adjacent thelower end of said tube with the portion adjacent the lower endexteriorly of the lower end of said tube, at least two balls arranged insuper-imposed abutting relation positioned within and freely slidable insaid tube with the lower ball normally resting upon the upper end ofsaid plunger, a lever positioned above said base and connectedintermediate the ends to said base for rocking movement about ahorizontal axis, one end of said lever being pivotally connected to thelower end portion of said plunger, and anvil means on the other end ofsaid lever, said lever upon the application of a downwardly directedstriking force to said anvil means being operable to execute rockingmovement of said lever and cause upward movement of said plunger withthe balls resting thereon toward said gong.

3. An amusement device comprising a base, a standard rising from saidbase adjacent one end of the latter, a gong carried by said standardadjacent the upper end, a vertically disposed elongated hollow tubehaving both ends open secured to said standard so that the upper end isadjacent to and spaced below a lower peripheral portion of said gong andthe lower end is spaced above said base, an upright plunger positionedso that a portion adjacent the upper end is within and adjacent thelower end of said tube with the portion adjacent the lower endexteriorly of the lower end of said tube, a ball freely slidable withinsaid tube and normally resting upon the upper end of said plunger, alever positioned above said base and connected intermediate the ends tosaid base for rocking movement about a horizontal axis, one end of saidlever being pivotally connected to the lower end portion of saidplunger, and anvil means embodying a round headed knob on the other endof said lever, said lever upon the application of a downwardly directedstriking force to said knob being operable to execute rocking movementof said lever and cause upward movement of said plunger with the ballresting thereon toward said gong.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,120,518 Morgan Dec. 8, 1914 1,532,482 Ford Apr. 7, 1925 1,866,021 FeyJuly 5, 1932 2,928,207 Paul Mar. 15, 1960 3,003,767 Keuls Oct. 10, 1961

